Miakoda Sep 4, 2024

Kinda crazy all sorts of old network and server stuff discarded by enterprises is still WAY WAY WAY beyond whatever trash you can pick up for home networking down at the big box.

God I hate consumer grade network equipment. Even if you're just some average end user who just wants wifi to go on Facebook, Netflix, and YouTube, go for prosumer grade or better. If it's old, as long as it's 10/100/1000 and Wifi 5, it'll be more than you need, and rock solid.

Show threadMiakoda Sep 4, 2024

"But I just [simple computer use], and don't want to tinker"

Yes, exactly. If you want to stick the box in the corner and not have to fuck with it for the next half decade, you want prosumer or better. The things on my network I constantly NEED to tinker with are the consumer grade shit. All my metal boxes get tinkered with because I WANT to fuck around with them. They'd happily keep doing their thing unattended for years and years.

Show threadMiakoda Sep 4, 2024

Here's another way to get my point...

What does a business not want to spend, ever, unless it really must?
Money.
What does fucking around with network equipment cost in a business setting? Time, which costs money, cause they have to pay someone to fuck with it.

Show threadMiakoda Sep 4, 2024
Thus, their network stuff is built to not need fucking with. Unless they change things and thus need to update settings, a network box of any sort made for business is going to sit there and cost as little time, and thus money, as technologically possible.
DanielSep 4, 2024
Show threadMiakoda 
How can you tell good stuff from cheap crap?
A good rule of thumb (though it's not always 100%), if it's an unappealing metal box, it's probably good.
If it's angular, or pretty, or "decore", or GAMER, I garuntee you it's shit. Network equipment should be a simple metal box. I happen to like the aesthetic, so I think "ugly metal boxes" are cool looking, but it's an acquired taste for sure.
You want pretty, or you want it to work well? You rarely get both.
Sep 4, 2024 at 1:04amWeb
Show threadRevK Sep 4, 2024
@hellomiakoda we try :-)
Show threadMiakoda Sep 4, 2024
@revk See, I think that looks great. But I'm in to metal boxes.
Show threadRevK Sep 4, 2024
@hellomiakoda and yes, there are loads of them sat in a dusty corner somewhere, just doing what they have always done.
Show threadtheothertomSep 4, 2024
@revk @hellomiakoda how have I just noticed that the FB2900 describes itself as a “network contraption” ‽
Show threadRevK Sep 4, 2024
@tom @hellomiakoda I was waiting for someone to spot that in the picture. That is indeed what it says on the box.
Show threadMiakoda Sep 4, 2024

@tom
@revk

This is amazing. I love it!

Show threadlp0 on fire Sep 4, 2024
@hellomiakoda, exactly: function over form. Although occasionally the cheap consumer-grade stuff does the job adequately without fuss or can be set up to let something else do part of the job: cheap modem/router (needs occasional reboot) in bridge mode, letting a Linux box handle PPP, DHCP & firewalling.
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergSep 4, 2024
@hellomiakoda What about metal boxes with pretty blue powder coating?
Show threadAndrew ZonenbergSep 4, 2024
@hellomiakoda (this particular one is prototype lab instrumentation, but the 48x 1G + 2x 25G switch I'm working on is going to use a similar-looking enclosure)